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2  God’s Power – Seen in the creation – (Rom 1:20)  God’s wisdom – Again seen in the creation – and His revelation - (Psalm 19:2; 104:24; Prov 2:6)  God’s righteousness and Holiness – Seen in His judgment on sin – (2 Pet 2:4-9)  God’s love MISUNDERSTOOD –  Why suffering & death, - (Rom 8:18-22; Gen 3),  Why evil, war, injustice?– (Eccl. 4:3; Gen. 3)  Why punish sinners, why hell? – (Rev. 20:8)

3 Romans 5:6-8 (NKJV) 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

4 John 3:14-17 (NKJV) 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

5 1 John 4:9-10 (NKJV) 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

6 Greek Words Translated Love  Eros - carnal or sexual love, motivated by the attractiveness of its object – (not used in the Bible)  Storge - the love of family – (astorgos – without natural affection – Strong’s - )  Philia - the love of close friends or brothers – (Strong’s – )  Agape - love which seeks the highest good of others – (Strong’s - )

7 Love - Of the worthy, attractive, beautiful Desire - To possess the object of one’s love Love - Given irrespective of considered merit Desire - to give to the object of one’s love

8 His Deliberate Purpose And Choice 1 John 4:9-10; 19 (NKJV) 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins We love Him because He first loved us.

9 His Deliberate Purpose And Choice (cf. 1 Tim 2:4; 2 Pet 3:9) Ephesians 1:4-6 (NKJV) 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

10 Is Undeserved Ephesians 2:3-9 (NKJV) 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

11 Is Undeserved Ephesians 2:3-9 (NKJV) 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. (cf. Titus 3:3-5)

12 Is Sacrificial 1 John 4:9-10 (NKJV) 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

13 Is Sacrificial Romans 8:32 (NKJV) 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV) 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

14 Is Universal John 3:16-17 (NKJV) 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

15 Is Universal 1 John 2:1-2 (NKJV) 1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (cf. Titus 2:11; John 1:9; 1 Tim 2:4-6)

16 Is Personal Galatians 2:20-21 (NKJV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

17 Is Motivational 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NKJV) 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (cf. Hebrews 12:18-24; 1 John 3:1-3)

18 Is Motivational  Motivates us to love God – 1 John 4:10, 17-19; Mark 12:29-31  Motivates us to love our brethren – 1 John 4:7-11; 5:1  Motivates us to obey God – 2 Cor, 5:15; John 14:21,23; 1 John 2:5; 3:18-24; 5:3; 2 John 1:6

19 Is Trustworthy Romans 8:35-39 (NKJV) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

20 Is Trustworthy Romans 8:35-39 (NKJV) 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (cf. Hebrews 13:5; 1 Peter 5:7-11)

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24 Note – Many of the transition effects used in this presentation are lost using PPT 2007 Viewer To view transitions you can download Office 2010 Beta for free: Charts by Don McClain Prepared June 7-10, 2010 Preached June13, 2010 West 65 th Street church of Christ P.O. Box Little Rock AR Prepared using PPT 2010 Beta – More PPT & Audio Sermons: maccla/2010SermonPage.html maccla/2010SermonPage.html Charts by Don McClain Prepared June 7-10, 2010 Preached June13, 2010 West 65 th Street church of Christ P.O. Box Little Rock AR Prepared using PPT 2010 Beta – More PPT & Audio Sermons: maccla/2010SermonPage.html maccla/2010SermonPage.html